My new purchase - wagon content

I wanted to share with all of you my most recent purchase! A kind of follow-up to my previous thread: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/what-to-look-for-buying-a-used-e91/139332/page1/

It’s a 2011 328i xDrive Sport Wagon E91 in Space Grey with Saddle Brown interior. It has 146000kms (90k miles) and is in fairly good condition. There are some blemishes on the front bumper and the rear bumper is a bit damaged (PO’s wife backed into her father’s car… awkward!).

I paid 7400$ (5500$ US), which was by far the best priced wagon I saw in my over 10 month search.

I am the third owner. The previous owner bought it CPO from BMW and had an extended warranty. It was dealer maintained until summer 2017 and I have all records dating back to 2014. And as an added bonus the PO threw in some lightly used Nokian Hakkapelita winters.

It was a long search process to find this color combo and I managed to find this one in the Montreal area. I am on the east coast of New Brunswick… fly and drive time! The transaction was pretty straightforward minus the time lost at the Quebec DMV.

An hour into my 10 hour drive back the pano roof decided that it did not want to close from the vent position! I quickly looked at it but decided to keep going with the sunroof open. I managed to close it up pretty quickly when I made it back home.

I have a few minor things to take care of, namely a squeaky rear bushing and worthless rear hatch struts. I’ll also be getting some new wheels as the ones on the car have some curb rash, they will be dedicated to winter. I’ll also be monitoring the water pump as it has not yet been done. All the other common areas have been addressed by the dealer (valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, serpentine belt).

Thanks for the advice in my previous thread as it really helped out :)

In for updates.  I've always liked these, but was afraid of the maintenance costs compared to an E46 (because internet hearsay).  The former generation is getting harder to find in half-way decent condition though.  Also, seems like a  deal or I just didn't realize they had become that cheap!

Question - how does the AWD system affect the handling compared to their RWD brethren?

Following for wagon content.

Beautiful! Congrats. Sounds like a good deal 

Wow, that's a hell of a deal for that year and mileage! Was it wrecked or something?  Most of the ones around here are double that price.  Plus it looks like you got the sport package too, lucky. I'm assuming this is an automatic?  If so, you should change the transmission fluid.  You should probably also change the transfer case fluid too, just make sure you reset the transfer case adaptations after you do it.  I've had two of these wagons, an automatic and a manual, and also an E90 that was RWD/manual.  Fantastic cars, I want to own one again soon.  

Matt B said:

In for updates.  I've always liked these, but was afraid of the maintenance costs compared to an E46 (because internet hearsay).  The former generation is getting harder to find in half-way decent condition though.  Also, seems like a  deal or I just didn't realize they had become that cheap!

Question - how does the AWD system affect the handling compared to their RWD brethren?

The AWD is a bit compromised, but it still handles well.  The biggest difference is the steering ratio, its 18:1 instead of 16:1 like the RWD cars.  The front suspension is steel instead of aluminum, but that's not really something you notice so much.  Ride height is a bit taller in the front, and there's a bit less theoretical suspension travel, but again, its not something that I ever noticed.  I suspect that the bushings do more to limit travel than the slightly lifted strut clamp on the knuckle.  One thing that's a bit annoying with the AWD cars is that the M3 front end stuff doesn't swap onto it like it does the RWD cars.  However, there's some decent aftermarket stuff now like monoball replacements for the thrust arm bushings that seem just as neat as the M3 stuff.  

I had my last E91 setup with Bilstein B6s, Dinan fixed camber plates and Michelin AS3+'s, and it was a fantastically handling vehicle.  

The wagon is the only version of the E9x body that I like the looks of. Manual or automatic?

It's an automatic.

It also wasn't wrecked, I'll admit the seller didn't really seem to know the value of the car. I for one did not see a point to tell him! In order to transfer the title in Quebec, we both had to be present at the DMV and I would have to pay a portion of the tax directly to the DMV. The amount of tax is calculated based on the book value and not the actual sale price, the lady at the DMV said that I would have to pay the tax on 14,200$ which I fully expected, but the PO was shocked! Too late for him, he had my money and I had the title!!

In reply to rothwem :

Excellent info on the AWD versions - ask and ye shall receive! 

Wow another NB poster!

Also a friend of mine picked one of these up this summer, lovely working and looking car.